Mining machine management system and management method

ABSTRACT

A mining machine management system includes a detection unit mounted on a mining machine that travels in a mine in which a plurality of landmarks is installed, and which detects a position of the landmark with respect to the mining machine in a non-contact manner, and a traveling control unit which corrects a current position of the mining machine based on a position of the landmark, the position having been obtained in advance, and the position of the landmark obtained by the detection unit and causes the mining machine to travel by dead reckoning navigation, and which does not use at least the position of the landmark detected by the detection unit in causing the mining machine to travel by the dead reckoning navigation, when a vehicle traveling in the mine exists around the position of the landmark detected by the detection unit.

This Application is a Division of application Ser. No. 15/107,185 filed on Jun. 22, 2016. The entire contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a mining machine management system and a management method.

BACKGROUND

In mines, causing unmanned vehicles to automatically travel in a traveling path set in advance has been proposed (for example, Patent Literature 1).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-215236

SUMMARY Technical Problem

Patent Literature 1 describes, in causing an unmanned vehicle to automatically travel, use of navigation to reckon a position and an azimuth of the vehicle by obtaining a traveling distance of the vehicle using a speed sensor or a moving distance sensor, and estimating the azimuth using a gyro or a geomagnetic sensor. In a case of causing a mining machine to travel with such navigation, an error of the position of the mining machine to be reckoned becomes larger as the traveling distance becomes larger. Therefore, in the case of causing a mining machine to travel with the navigation, correction of the error of the reckoned position using a reference of position called landmark installed in GPS or a mine is considered.

In a case where the GPS becomes unable to be used, the mining machine is caused to travel while the position obtained by the navigation is corrected using the position of the landmark. In this case, a vehicle, another mining machine, or the like operated in the mine may stop near the landmark installed in the mine. Then, there is a possibility that the mining machine recognizes the vehicle or the like stopped near the landmark as the landmark. In this case, the mining machine corrects the position obtained by the navigation, using the position of the vehicle or the like different from the original landmark. As a result, in a case of an unmanned mining machine, there is a possibility that the unmanned mining machine deviates from a traveling path in the mine. The same applies to a case of guiding a manned mining machine using a navigation device, for example.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a mining machine management system and a management method that can decrease a possibility that a mining machine deviates from a traveling path in a mine.

Solution to Problem

According to the present invention, a mining machine management system comprises: a detection unit mounted on a mining machine configured to travel in an unmanned manner in a mine in which a plurality of landmarks is installed, the detection unit being configured to detect a position of the landmark with respect to the mining machine in a non-contact manner; and a traveling control unit configured to correct a current position of the mining machine based on a position of the landmark, the position of the landmark having been obtained in advance, and the position of the landmark obtained by the detection unit to cause the mining machine to travel by dead reckoning navigation, and configured, when an object different from the landmark exists around the position of the landmark detected by the detection unit, not to use at least the position of the landmark detected by the detection unit when the traveling control unit causes the mining machine to travel by the dead reckoning navigation.

According to the present invention, a mining machine management system comprises: a detection unit mounted on a mining machine configured to travel in an unmanned manner in a mine in which a plurality of landmarks is installed, the detection unit being configured to detect a position of an object with respect to the mining machine in a non-contact manner; and a traveling control unit configured to determine, when a distance between the position of the object detected by the detection unit and a position of the landmark, the position of the landmark having been obtained in advance, is within a predetermined value, the position of the object to be the position of the landmark, and configured to correct a current position of the mining machine based on the position of the landmark obtained in advance and the position of the landmark obtained by the detection unit to cause the mining machine to travel by dead reckoning navigation, wherein the traveling control unit makes the predetermined value small, when an object different from the landmark exists around the position of the landmark detected by the detection unit.

It is preferable that in a case where the traveling control unit has made the predetermined value small, the traveling control unit does not determine the object detected by the detection unit to be the landmark, when the distance between the position of the object detected by the detection unit and the position of the landmark obtained in advance is larger than the predetermined value that has been made small.

It is preferable that the mining machine management system, comprises: an own position detection device mounted on the mining machine, the own position detection device being configured to obtain an own position of the mining machine, wherein the traveling control unit is configured to cause the mining machine to travel based on the own position detected by the own position detection device, and is configured to cause the mining machine to travel by the dead reckoning navigation when the own position detection device becomes unable to detect the own position.

It is preferable that the detection unit includes a radar device configured to detect an object existing around the mining machine to monitor surroundings of the mining machine.

According to the present invention, a mining machine management system comprises: a detection unit mounted on a mining machine configured to travel in an unmanned manner in a mine in which a plurality of landmarks is installed, the detection unit including a radar device configured to detect an object existing around the mining machine to monitor surroundings of the mining machine, the detection unit being configured to detect a position of the landmark with respect to the mining machine in a non-contact manner; a storage unit configured to store a position of an object different from the landmark; an own position detection device mounted on the mining machine, the own position detection device being configured to obtain an own position of the mining machine; and a traveling control unit mounted on the mining machine, the traveling control unit being configured to cause the mining machine to travel based on the own position detected by the own position detection device, and configured, when the own position detection device becomes unable to detect the own position, to correct a current position of the mining machine based on a position of the landmark, the position of the landmark having been obtained in advance, and the position of the landmark obtained by the detection unit, to cause the mining machine to travel by dead reckoning navigation, wherein the traveling control unit is configured to acquire the position of the object different from the landmark from the storage unit, and is configured, when the position of the object different from the landmark exists in a predetermined range around the position of the landmark detected by the detection unit, not to use at least the position of the landmark detected by the detection unit when the traveling control unit causes the mining machine to travel by the dead reckoning navigation.

According to the present invention, a mining machine management system comprises: a detection unit mounted on a mining machine configured to travel in an unmanned manner in a mine in which a plurality of landmarks is installed, the detection unit being configured to detect a position of an object with respect to the mining machine in a non-contact manner; a storage unit configured to store a position of an object different from the landmark; and a traveling control unit configured to determine, when a distance between the position of the object detected by the detection unit and a position of the landmark, the position of the landmark having been obtained in advance, is within a predetermined value, the position of the object to be the position of the landmark, and configured to correct a current position of the mining machine based on the position of the landmark obtained in advance and the position of the landmark obtained by the detection unit, to cause the mining machine to travel by dead reckoning navigation, wherein the traveling control unit is configured to acquire the position of the object different from the landmark from the storage unit, and make the predetermined value small, when the position of the object different from the landmark exists in a predetermined range around the position of the landmark detected by the detection unit.

According to the present invention, a mining machine management method, in managing a mining machine configured to travel in an unmanned manner in a mine in which a plurality of landmarks is installed and travel based on a detected own position, the method comprises: detecting a position of the landmark; and when an object different from the landmark exists around the detected position of the landmark, not using at least the detected position of the landmark in causing the mining machine to travel by dead reckoning navigation.

According to the present invention, a mining machine management method, in managing a mining machine configured to travel in a mine in which a plurality of landmarks is installed and travel based on a detected own position, the method comprises: detecting a position of an object with respect to the mining machine, and determining, when a distance between the detected position of the object and a position of the landmark, the position of the landmark having been obtained in advance, is within a predetermined value, the position of the object to be the position of the landmark; and making the predetermined value small when an object different from the landmark exists around the obtained position of the landmark.

The present invention can decrease a possibility of deviation of a mining machine from a traveling path in a mine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mining machine management system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a management device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a dump truck according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the dump truck according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an appearance of a vehicle according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system of a vehicle according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a landmark is detected by a non-contact sensor of the dump truck.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of traveling of the dump truck including correction of a reckoned position using the landmark and the non-contact sensor.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of position detection processing and position registration processing of a landmark 8 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of landmark position detection processing and landmark position registration processing according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a mining machine management method according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a technique to detect a landmark.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a technique to detect a landmark.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an example of processing of detecting a landmark.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a mining machine management method according to a modification of the present embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the mining machine management method according to the modification of the present embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Forms (embodiments) for implementing the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Outline of Mining Machine Management System>

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mining machine management system 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the mining machine management system (hereinafter, appropriately, referred to as management system) 1 and a site to which the management system 1 is applied. The management system 1 includes a management device 10 arranged in a control facility 7, and manages mining machines. Management of mining machines includes at least one of traffic control of the mining machines, evaluation of productivity of the mining machines, evaluation of operation techniques of operators of the mining machines, maintenance of the mining machines, and diagnosis of abnormality of the mining machines.

The mining machine is a collective term of machinery used for various types of work in mines. The mining machines are, for example, a loading machine, a carrying machine, and the like. The loading machine is a machine that loads a load such as gravels or rocks onto the carrying machine. The loading machine includes at least one of an excavator, an electric excavator, and a wheel loader. The carrying machine is machine that travels in mines and carries the loads loaded by the loading machine. The carrying machine includes a dump truck 2.

In the present embodiment, the management system 1 manages at least the carrying machine. Hereinafter, an example in which the management system 1 manages the dump truck 2 will be described. However, an object managed by the management system 1 is not limited to the dump truck 2. The dump truck 2 travels in at least a part of a loading place LPA of a mine, a dumping place DPA, and a conveying path HL as a traveling path passing to at least one of the loading place LPA and the dumping place DPA. As described above, the dump truck 2 is a moving body movable in the mine.

In the present embodiment, the dump truck 2 is a so-called unmanned dump truck that is operated by a command from the management device 10. Therefore, no worker (operator) boards the dump truck 2. Note that the dump truck 2 is not limited to the unmanned dump truck, and may be a manned dump truck boarded and driven by the worker. In the present embodiment, the dump truck 2 travels according to a traveling path determined in advance. In the present embodiment, the dump truck 2 controls own steering, accelerator, and brake along the set traveling path based on an own position during operation and position information included in the traveling path.

The dump truck 2 is loaded by a loading machine 4 in a loading position LP in the loading place LPA. The loading place LPA is a region where loading work of a load is performed in the mine. The loading position LP is a position (loading point) where the dump truck 2 is actually loaded in the loading place LPA spread to a predetermined range.

The dump truck 2 is unloaded in the dumping place DPA. To be specific, the dump truck 2 raises a loaded vessel, and discharges the load from the vessel into the dumping place DPA. The dumping place DPA is a region where the dump truck 2 discharges the load in the mine. A dumping position DP is a place where the dump truck 2 actually discharges the load in the dumping place DPA spread to a predetermined range.

In the present embodiment, the management system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes at least the dump truck 2. In the present embodiment, the management system 1 can be realized by the dump truck 2, and the management device 10 arranged in the control facility 7, and which manages the dump truck 2.

In the mine, a vehicle 3 as a moving body movable in the mine travels, in addition to the dump truck 2. The vehicle 3 travels in the mine to perform various types of work related to the mine including management and maintenance of the mining machines used in the mine. In the present embodiment, the vehicle 3 travels in at least a part of the loading place LPA, the dumping place DPA, and the conveying path HL. The vehicle 3 is driven by the worker (operator) who boards thereon. As described above, the vehicle 3 is a so-called manned vehicle. The worker boarding on the vehicle 3 moves to an arbitrary position in the mine together by the vehicle 3. In the present embodiment, the vehicle 3 is a pickup truck or an automobile, for example.

The management device 10 is installed in the control facility (central control room) 7 of the mine. In the present embodiment, the management device 10 is not moved. However, the management device 10 may be moved.

A plurality of landmarks 8 is installed in the mine. The landmarks 8 are respectively arranged in the loading place LPA, the dumping place DPA, and the conveying path HL. Since the landmarks 8 are stationary objects, the landmarks 8 are not moved from the installed positions (places) in principle.

The dump truck 2 travels while successively updating an own position using azimuth angle measurement by a gyro and a speed (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as vehicle speed) at which the dump truck 2 travels. A method like this is referred to as dead reckoning navigation or autonomous navigation. The dead reckoning navigation accumulates errors. Therefore, in the dead reckoning navigation, for example, the own position is corrected using the position of the dump truck that is measured using a global positioning system (GPS). In a case where the GPS cannot be used, the dump truck 2 acquires the position of the landmark 8 and corrects the own position. Note that the own position may be corrected by the management device 10.

A communication system 9 transmits information between the management device 10 and the dump truck 2 and between the management device 10 and the vehicle 3. Therefore, the management device 10 and the dump truck 2, and the management device 10 and the vehicle 3 can perform communication through the communication system 9. In the present embodiment, the communication system may transmit information between the vehicle 3 and the dump truck 2. In this case, the dump truck 2 and the vehicle 3 can perform communication through the communication system 9. In the present embodiment, the communication system 9 is, but not limited to, a wireless communication system. In the present embodiment, the communication system 9 includes a repeater 6 that relays a signal (radio wave) between the management device 10 and the dump truck 2, and between the management device 10 and the vehicle 3.

In the present embodiment, the position of the dump truck 2, the position of the vehicle 3, and the position of the landmark 8 are obtained using the GPS. The GPS includes a GPS satellite 5. The GPS detects a position in a coordinate system (GPS coordinate system) that defines latitude, longitude, and altitude. Therefore, the position detected by the GPS includes coordinate values of the latitude, longitude, and altitude. The position detected by the GPS is an absolute position defined in the GPS coordinate system. In the description below, the position measured by the GPS is appropriately referred to as GPS position.

<Management Device>

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the management device 10 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the management device 10 includes a computer system 11, a display device 16, an input device 17, and a wireless communication device 18. The computer system 11 includes a processing device 12 as a processing unit, a storage device 13 as a storage unit, and an input/output unit 15. The display device 16, the input device 17, and the wireless communication device 18 are connected with the computer system 11 through an input/output unit 15. The input/output unit 15 is used to input/output information to/from at least one of the processing device 12, the display device 16, the input device 17, and the wireless communication device 18.

The processing device 12 includes a central processing unit (CPU), for example. The processing device 12 executes various types of processing related to management of the dump truck 2. The processing device 12 includes a data processing unit 12A and a traveling path generation unit 12B. In the present embodiment, the data processing unit 12A processes information related to the position of the dump truck 2, information related to the position of the vehicle 3, and information related to the position of the landmark 8, which are acquired through the communication system 9. The traveling path generation unit 12B generates a traveling path on which the dump truck 2 travels. The dump truck 2 travels along the travel path generated by the traveling path generation unit 12B in at least a part of the loading place LPA, the dumping place DPA, and the conveying path HL. The traveling path generated by the traveling path generation unit 12B is a position information group that includes a plurality of coordinate values of the latitude, longitude, and altitude as position information.

The storage device 13 is a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a hard disk drive, or combinations thereof. The storage device 13 stores various types of information related to management of the dump truck 2. The storage device 13 includes a database 13B in which information is registered. Further, the storage device 13 stores a computer program for causing the processing device 12 to execute various types of processing. The processing device 12 reads the computer program stored in the storage device 13, and processes the information related to the positions and generates the traveling path.

The display device 16 displays the information related to the position of the dump truck 2, the information related to the position of the vehicle 3, the information related to the position of the landmark 8, and the like. The display device 16 includes, for example, a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display.

The input device 17 includes at least one of a keyboard, a touch panel, an operation switch, and a mouse. The input device 17 functions as an operation unit that can input an operation signal to the processing device 12. An administrator of the control facility 7 can operate the input device 17 to input a command, information, and the like to the processing device 12.

The communication system 9 includes the wireless communication device 18. The wireless communication device 18 is arranged in the control facility 7. The wireless communication device 18 is connected with the processing device 12 through the input/output unit 15. The wireless communication device 18 includes an antenna 18A. The wireless communication device 18 can receive information transmitted from at least one of the dump truck 2 and the vehicle 3. The wireless communication device 18 outputs the received information to the processing device 12. The information received by the wireless communication device 18 is stored (registered) in the storage device 13. The wireless communication device 18 transmits the information to at least one of the dump truck 2 and the vehicle 3.

<Dump Truck>

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the dump truck 2 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the dump truck 2 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the dump truck 2 includes a vehicle main body 21, a vessel 22, wheels 23, a non-contact sensor 24 as a detection unit that detects the position of the landmark 8 in a non-contact manner, a processing device 20 as a processing unit, a storage device 25 as a storage unit, a gyro sensor 26, a speed sensor 27, a wireless communication device 28 to which an antenna 28A is connected, and a position detection device 29 as an own position detection device to which an antenna 29A is connected.

An internal combustion engine, a generator, and a motor are mounted on the vehicle main body 21, for example. In the present embodiment, the internal combustion engine is a diesel engine, for example. The generator is driven by the internal combustion engine and generates power. The motor drives the wheels 23, to be specific, rear wheels, by the power generated by the generator, and allows the dump truck 2 to travel. The wheels 23 include tires and wheels. A driving system of the dump truck 2 is not limited to such a system. For example, the driving system of the dump truck 2 may be a drive system in which the power of the internal combustion engine is transmitted to the wheels 23 through a transmission including a torque converter.

A vessel 22 is a load-carrying platform that is loaded. The vessel 22 is arranged on the vehicle main body 21. The vessel 22 is loaded by the loading machine 4. The vessel 22 can take a horizontal first posture and a second posture rising from a rear end side of the dump truck 2 as a point of support. The first posture is a state where the vessel 22 is loaded, and the second posture is a posture at which the vessel 22 is unloaded.

A plurality of the non-contact sensors 24 is arranged around the vehicle main body 21. The non-contact sensor 24 includes a radar device that detects an object existing around the dump truck 2, for example. The radar device included in the non-contact sensor 24 is a device that detects the object using a millimeter wave radar in a non-contact manner. In the present embodiment, the non-contact sensor 24 can obtain the distance and the azimuth to the detected object, and a relative position between the detected object and the own device from the obtained distance and azimuth.

The non-contact sensor 24 may output a signal according to reflection intensity of a radio wave reflected by the object and a direction of the reflected radio wave. In this case, the processing device 20 that has acquired the signal from the non-contact sensor 24 obtains the distance and the azimuth to the object detected by the non-contact sensor 24, and obtains the relative position between the detected object and the non-contact sensor 24 from the obtained distance and azimuth, based on the reflection intensity and the direction of the radio wave corresponding to the acquired signal. That is, the non-contact sensor 24 and the processing device 20 function as a detection unit.

The non-contact sensor 24 includes an emission unit that can emit the radio wave, and a reception unit that can receive the radio wave. In the present embodiment, the position of the landmark 8 installed in the mine is detected in a non-contact manner using the non-contact sensor 24 used for monitoring surroundings of the dump truck 2. In doing so, it is not necessary to separately provide sensors for detecting the position of the landmark 8. Therefore, manufacturing cost of the dump truck 2 can be decreased.

When detecting the landmark 8 and its position, the non-contact sensor 24 emits the radio wave, and irradiates the landmark 8 with the radio wave. At least a part of the radio wave with which the landmark 8 is irradiated is reflected at the landmark 8. The non-contact sensor 24 receives the radio wave reflected at the landmark 8. In doing so, the non-contact sensor 24 can detect the landmark 8 for the non-contact sensor 24, and can detect the direction, the distance, and the position of the detected landmark 8.

The non-contact sensor 24 is attached to the vehicle main body 21 of the dump truck 2. Therefore, the relative position of the landmark 8 with respect to the dump truck 2, which has been detected by the non-contact sensor 24, corresponds to the position (relative position, hereinafter, appropriately referred to as relative position) of the landmark 8 to the dump truck 2.

The non-contact sensor 24 is connected to the processing device 20. The non-contact sensor 24 converts a detection result of detection of the landmark 8, a vehicle existing around the dump truck 2, or another object into an electrical signal, and outputs the signal to the processing device 20. This detection result includes the direction, the distance, and the position of the landmark 8. The processing device 20 obtains the relative position between the dump truck 2 and the landmark 8 based on the detection result of the non-contact sensor 24. That is, the non-contact sensor 24 detects the relative position of the landmark 8 with respect to the own sensor, so that the relative position between the dump truck 2 and the landmark 8 is detected.

The non-contact sensors 24 are arranged on a front surface, a rear surface, and both side surfaces of the vehicle main body of the dump truck 2. In the embodiment described below, the non-contact sensor 24 detects a front object (for example, the landmark 8) at the time of traveling nearly straight, and thus description will be exemplarily given using the front non-contact sensor 24. In a case of traveling rearward, the dump truck 2 can detect an object by the rear non-contact sensor 24. An object existing in front of a curve can be detected by the side non-contact sensor 24. Each of the non-contact sensors 24 obtains at least one of the distance and the azimuth of the object. The processing device 20 detects the relative position between the dump truck 2 and the object considering the detection result of each of the non-contact sensors 24, and an attached position and an attaching direction of each of the non-contact sensors 24 in the vehicle main body.

The gyro sensor 26 detects the azimuth (for example, an azimuth change amount) of the dump truck 2. The gyro sensor 26 is connected with the processing device 20, converts the detection result into the electrical signal, and outputs the signal to the processing device 20. The processing device 20 obtains the azimuth (azimuth change amount) of the dump truck 2 based on the detection result of the gyro sensor 26.

The speed sensor 27 detects a vehicle speed of the dump truck 2. In the present embodiment, the speed sensor 27 detects a rotation speed of the wheels 23 to detect the vehicle speed of the dump truck 2. The speed sensor 27 is connected with the processing device 20, converts a detection result into an electrical signal, and outputs the signal to the processing device 20. The processing device 20 can obtain a moving speed of the dump truck 2 based on the detection result of the speed sensor 27 and time information from a timer built in the processing device 20.

<Control System of Dump Truck>

The processing device 20 included in a processing system 2S of the dump truck 2 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a central processing unit (CPU). The processing device 20 executes various types of processing related to management, control, and the like of the dump truck 2. In the present embodiment, the processing device 20 can execute processing equivalent to that of the processing device 12 arranged in the control facility 7. The processing device 20 includes a traveling control unit 20A.

The traveling control unit 20A causes the dump truck 2 to travel along the traveling path set in advance based on the own position of the dump truck 2 detected by the position detection device 29 as an own position detection device. At this time, the traveling control unit 20A controls a traveling state of the dump truck 2 by controlling at least one of the steering, the accelerator, and the brake of the dump truck 2. Further, the traveling control unit 20A causes the dump truck 2 to travel with dead reckoning navigation when the position detection device 29 becomes unable to detect the own position of the dump truck 2.

The storage device 25 included in the processing system 2S is connected with the processing device 20. With such a structure, the processing device 20 and the storage device 25 can mutually exchange information. The storage device 25 is a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a hard disk drive, or combinations thereof. The storage device 25 stores various types of information related to management of the dump truck 2. The information stored in the storage device 25 includes a database 25B in which information used for control of the dump truck 2 is registered, a computer program for causing the processing device 20 to execute various types of processing, and the like. In the present embodiment, the storage device 25 can store information equivalent to that of the storage device 13 arranged in the control facility 7.

The wireless communication device 28 included in the processing system 2S is an on-vehicle communication device mounted on the dump truck 2 and performs wireless communication. The wireless communication device 28 includes the antenna 28A. The wireless communication device 28 is connected with the processing device 20. The wireless communication device 28 receives information including a command signal transmitted from at least one of the management device 10 and the vehicle 3. The information received by the wireless communication device 28 is output to the processing device 20, and stored in the storage device 25 through the processing device 20. The processing device 20, to be specific, the traveling control unit 20A can control traveling of the dump truck 2 according to the command signal received by the wireless communication device 28. Further, the wireless communication device 28 can transmit information output by the processing device 20 to at least one of the management device 10 and the vehicle 3. That is, the processing device 20 can transmit/receive the information to/from at least one of the management device 10 and the vehicle 3 through the wireless communication device 28.

The position detection device 29 included in the processing system 2S is mounted on the dump truck 2. The position detection device 29 is connected with the processing device 20. The position detection device 29 includes a GPS receiver and the GPS antenna 29A. The antenna 29A is arranged outside the dump truck 2, and in a position where the antenna 29A can easily receive the radio wave from the GPS satellite 5 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The position detection device 29 obtains the own position of the dump truck 2 using the GPS. The own position obtained by the position detection device 29 is the position of the dump truck 2 obtained by the GPS, that is, a GPS position and also an absolute position. The own position detected by the position detection device 29 is specifically a GPS position of the antenna 29A attached to the dump truck 2. In the present embodiment, the GPS position of the antenna 29A is used as the own position of the dump truck 2. The processing device 20 illustrated in FIG. 4 can obtain positions of respective units of the dump truck 2, and the position of the landmark 8 with respect to the dump truck 2, which has been detected by the non-contact sensor 24, using the own position as a reference.

The antenna 29A receives the radio wave from the GPS satellite 5. The antenna 29A outputs a signal based on the received radio wave to the position detection device 29. The position detection device 29 obtains the GPS position of the antenna 29A based on the signal output from the antenna 29A. When the GPS position of the antenna 29A is obtained, the GPS position of the dump truck 2, that is, the own position of the dump truck 2 is obtained.

<Vehicle>

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an appearance of the vehicle 3 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system of the vehicle 3 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the vehicle 3 includes a vehicle main body 37, wheels 38, a processing device 30, a storage device 39, a wireless communication device 32 to which an antenna 32A is connected, a position detection device 33 to which an antenna 33A is connected, a display device 36, and an input device 31.

An internal combustion engine as an engine is mounted on the vehicle main body 37. The wheels 38 are rotated by power transmitted from the engine of the vehicle main body 37, and allow the vehicle 3 to travel. In the present embodiment, a worker WM boarding the vehicle 3 operates the vehicle 3.

<Control System 3S of Vehicle 3>

The processing device 30 included in a control system 3S of the vehicle 3 includes a central processing unit (CPU). The storage device 39, the wireless communication device 32, a position detection device 34, the display device 36, and the input device 31 are connected to the processing device 30, and the processing device 30 executes various types of processing. In the present embodiment, the processing device 30 can execute processing equivalent to that of the processing device 12 arranged in the control facility 7 and the processing device 20 arranged in the dump truck 2.

The storage device 39 included in the control system 3S of the vehicle 3 is mounted on the vehicle 3. The storage device 39 is a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a hard disk drive, or combinations thereof. The storage device 39 stores a database 39B in which information is registered, and a computer program for causing the processing device 30 to execute various types of processing. Note that the storage device 39 may store information equivalent to that of the storage device 13 arranged in the control facility 7 and the storage device 25 arranged in the dump truck 2.

The display device 36 included in the control system 3S of the vehicle 3 can display the information related to the position of the vehicle 3 and the information related to the position of the landmark 8. The display device 36 is, for example, but not limited to, a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display.

The input device 31 included in the control system 3S of the vehicle 3 includes at least one of a keyboard, a touch panel, and an operation switch. The input device 31 inputs an operation signal to the processing device 30. For example, the worker (operator) WM of the vehicle 3 operates the input device 31 to input information to the processing device 30 or input a command.

The wireless communication device 32 included in the control system 3S of the vehicle 3 is mounted on the vehicle 3. The wireless communication device 32 is connected with the processing device 30. Further, the wireless communication device 32 includes the antenna 32A. The wireless communication device 32 receives information including a command signal transmitted from at least one of the management device 10 and the dump truck 2. The information received by the wireless communication device 32 is output to the processing device 30, and stored in the storage device 39 through the processing device 30. Further, the wireless communication device 32 can transmit information from the processing device 30 to at least one of the management device 10 and the dump truck 2.

The position detection device 33 included in the control system 3S of the vehicle 3 is mounted on the vehicle 3. The position detection device 33 is connected with the processing device 30. The position detection device 33 includes a GPS receiver and the GPS antenna 33A. The antenna 33A is arranged outside the vehicle 3, and a position where the antenna 33A can easily receive the radio wave from the GPS satellite 5 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The position detection device 33 obtains the position (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as vehicle position) of the vehicle 3. The vehicle position obtained by the position detection device 33 is the position of the vehicle 3 obtained by the GPS, that is, a GPS position and also an absolute position. The vehicle position obtained by the position detection device 33 is specifically a GPS position of the antenna 33A attached to the vehicle 3. In the present embodiment, the GPS position of the antenna 33A is used as the vehicle position. The processing device 30 illustrated in FIG. 6 can obtain positions of the respective units of the vehicle 3 using the vehicle position as a reference.

The antenna 33A receives the radio wave from the GPS satellite 5. The antenna 33A outputs a signal based on the received radio wave to the position detection device 33. The position detection device 33 obtains the GPS position of the antenna 33A based on the signal output from the antenna 33A. When the GPS position of the antenna 33A is obtained, the GPS position of the vehicle 3, that is, the vehicle position can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, a GPS antenna 34A is mounted on the vehicle 3. The antenna 34A receives the radio wave from the GPS satellite 5 illustrated in FIG. 1. The antenna 34A is releasably mounted on the vehicle 3. The antenna 34A released from the vehicle 3 can be moved outside the vehicle 3 and to a position separated from the vehicle 3. The worker WM holds the antenna 34A, and can move the antenna 34A to the position outside the vehicle 3 and in the position separated from the vehicle 3. As described above, the antenna 34A can receive the radio wave from the GPS satellite 5 in a state of being arranged outside the vehicle 3.

The position detection device 34 included in the control system 3S of the vehicle 3 is mounted on the vehicle 3. The position detection device 34 is connected with the processing device 30. The position detection device 34 includes a GPS receiver and the GPS antenna 34A. The position detection device 34 and the antenna 34A are connected through a cable 35. The position detection device 34 detects the position (GPS position) of the antenna 34A.

In a case where the antenna 34A is carried by the worker WM, the position of the antenna 34A is detected, so that the position (GPS position) of the worker WM is detected. In a case where the antenna 34A is installed near an object, the position of the antenna 34A is detected, so that the position (GPS position) of the object is detected.

The antenna 34A outputs the signal based on the radio wave, which has been received from the GPS satellite 5, to the position detection device 34 through the cable 35. The position detection device 34 detects the position of the antenna 34A based on the signal acquired from the antenna 34A. The position detection device 34 converts the signal based on the radio wave from the GPS satellite 5 and received by the antenna 34A, into an electrical signal, and obtains the position of the antenna 34A. When the GPS position of the antenna 34A is obtained, the GPS position of the object arranged near the antenna 34A is obtained. This object includes the worker.

<Method of Using Landmark>

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state where the landmark 8 is detected by the non-contact sensor 24 of the dump truck 2. The landmarks 8 are structures respectively arranged in the loading place LPA, the dumping place DPA, and the conveying path HL. On the conveying path HL, the landmark 8 is arranged outside the conveying path HL, for example, on a shoulder of the conveying path HL. A plurality of the landmarks 8 is arranged with a space along the conveying path HL. In the present embodiment, the landmarks 8 are arranged in every 100 m, for example. However, the interval of adjacent landmarks 8 is not limited to 100 m.

The landmark 8 includes a reflecting portion (reflecting surface) 8R that can reflect the radio wave emitted from the non-contact sensor 24. Reflectance (reflection intensity) of the reflecting portion 8R of the landmark 8 with respect to the radio wave is higher than reflectance (reflection intensity) of an object around the landmark 8, for example, a rock in the mine, or the like. Therefore, the non-contact sensor 24 illustrated in FIG. 4 can detect the landmark 8 separately from the peripheral object.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the radio wave is emitted from the emission unit of the non-contact sensor 24 arranged on the dump truck 2, with which the landmark 8 is irradiated. At least a part of the radio wave with which the landmark 8 is irradiated is reflected at the reflecting portion 8R of the landmark 8. The non-contact sensor 24 receives the radio wave from the landmark 8 reflected at the reflecting portion 8R with the reception unit. The non-contact sensor 24 receives the radio wave from the landmark 8 to detect the landmark 8 itself, or detect the relative position between the non-contact sensor 24 and the landmark 8, that is, the relative position of the landmark 8 with respect to the dump truck 2.

In the present embodiment, the radio wave from the non-contact sensor 24 propagates to be spread from the emission unit of the non-contact sensor 24. The landmark 8 exists in a space (propagation space) where the radio wave emitted from the non-contact sensor 24 propagates, so that the non-contact sensor 24 can detect the landmark 8 itself and its position. Further, the radio wave emitted from the non-contact sensor 24 attenuates with its progress. Therefore, the radio wave emitted from the non-contact sensor 24 is decreased in intensity with its progress. The landmark 8 exists in the propagation space in which the radio wave emitted from the non-contact sensor 24 propagates in a state of maintaining intensity of a predetermined value or more, so that the non-contact sensor 24 can detect the landmark 8 itself and its position. Hereinafter, the propagation space of the radio wave in which the non-contact sensor 24 can detect the landmark 8 itself and its position based on the radio wave emitted by the non-contact sensor 24 itself is appropriately referred to as detection region (detection space) 300 of the non-contact sensor 24. The dimension of the detection region 300 existing in a traveling direction side of the dump truck 2 in the traveling direction side is, for example, but not limited to, 50 m.

The non-contact sensor 24 may be an optical sensor that detects the landmark 8 using a laser light as detection light, for example. In this case, the non-contact sensor 24 includes an emission unit that can emit the detection light, and a reception unit that can receive at least a part of the detection light emitted from the emission unit and reflected at the landmark 8, for example. The landmark 8 is arranged in a space (irradiation space) irradiated with the detection light emitted from the non-contact sensor 24, so that the non-contact sensor 24 can detect the landmark 8. In a case where the non-contact sensor 24 detects the landmark 8 using the detection light, the detection region 300 of the non-contact sensor 24 includes the irradiation space of the detection light where the landmark 8 can be detected based on the detection light emitted from the non-contact sensor 24.

In the present embodiment, the position of the landmark 8 is detected also using the GPS. The position of the landmark 8 detected using the GPS is a GPS position and also an absolute position. In the present embodiment, the position of the landmark 8 detected using the GPS and obtained in advance, that is, the GPS position is stored in the storage device 13 of the management device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2. The GPS position of the landmark 8 stored in the storage device 13 is the above-described registration position. The GPS position of the landmark 8 stored in the storage device 13 is appropriately referred to as registration position.

Information related to the relative position between the dump truck 2 and the landmark 8, which has been detected using the non-contact sensor 24, is transmitted to the management device 10, to be specific, the processing device 12, through the communication system 9. The processing device 12 can obtain the absolute position (GPS position) of the dump truck 2 based on the information related to the relative position between the dump truck 2 and the landmark 8, which has been detected using the non-contact sensor 24, and the information related to the absolute position (GPS position) of the landmark 8 registered (stored) in the storage device 13.

The position of the landmark 8 detected using the GPS, that is, the GPS position may be stored in the storage device 25 of the dump truck 2. In this case, the processing device 20 of the dump truck 2 can obtain the absolute position (GPS position) of the dump truck 2 based on the information related to the relative position between the dump truck 2 and the landmark 8, which has been detected using the non-contact sensor 24, and the information related to the absolute position (GPS position) of the landmark 8 stored in the storage device 25. Further, as for the GPS position of the landmark 8, a part or whole of the information stored in the storage device 13 of the management device 10 may be transmitted to and stored in the storage device 25 of the dump truck 2 through the wireless communication devices 18 and 28. The GPS position of the landmark 8 stored in the storage device 25 of the dump truck 2 is the above-described registration position. The GPS position of the landmark 8 stored in the storage device 25 of the dump truck 2 is appropriately referred to as registration position.

If the storage device 25 of the dump truck 2 stores a part of the GPS position of the landmark 8, which is stored in the storage device 13 of the management device 10, it is not necessary to store the GPS positions of the landmarks 8 in the entire mine. Therefore, the capacity of the storage device 25 can be made small. In this case, the management device 10 favorably transmits and stores the GPS positions of the landmarks 8 existing in a predetermined range in a periphery of the position of the dump truck 2 at a present point of time to the storage device 25 of the dump truck 2. In doing so, the management system 1 can cover the GPS positions of the landmarks 8 in the entire mine while suppressing an increase in the capacity of the storage device 25 of the dump truck 2.

<Method of Traveling of Dump Truck>

Next, an example of a method of traveling of the dump truck 2 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the description below, an example in which the management device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, to be specific, the processing device 12 manages traveling of the dump truck 2 will be described. The processing device 12 transmits a traveling command signal to the processing device 20 of the dump truck 2 illustrated in FIG. 4, to be specific, the traveling control unit 20A, through the communication system 9, to be specific, the wireless communication device 18 and the wireless communication device 28. The traveling command signal includes information of a command value of a traveling speed of the dump truck 2 and the traveling path generated by the traveling path generation unit 12B.

The traveling control unit 20A of the dump truck 2 controls the dump truck 2 to control traveling of the dump truck 2 based on the traveling command signal of the processing device 12 transmitted through the communication system 9. In this case, the traveling control unit 20A operates at least one of steering, an accelerator, and a brake of the dump truck 2.

An example in which the dump truck 2 travels based on the dead reckoning navigation will be described. In the present embodiment, the dump truck 2 travels in at least a part of the loading place LPA, the dumping place DPA, and the conveying path HL according to the traveling path generated by the traveling path generation unit 12B of the management device 10. The traveling control unit 20A of the processing device 20 of the dump truck 2 causes the dump truck 2 to travel along the traveling path generated by the traveling path generation unit 12B and set in advance while reckoning the current position of the dump truck 2 using the dead reckoning navigation.

The dead reckoning navigation refers to navigation to reckon a current own position of an object, that is, the dump truck 2 in the present embodiment, based on the azimuth from a starting point where the longitude and the latitude are known (azimuth change amount), and the moving distance for traveling. As described above, the azimuth of the dump truck 2 is obtained using the gyro sensor 26 mounted on the dump truck 2. The moving distance of the dump truck 2 is obtained using the speed sensor 27 mounted on the dump truck 2.

The traveling control unit 20A of the dump truck 2 that has acquired the detection signal of the gyro sensor 26 and the detection result of the speed sensor 27 obtains the azimuth and the azimuth change amount of the dump truck 2 from the known starting point based on the detection result of the gyro sensor 26. Further, the traveling control unit 20A obtains the moving distance of the dump truck 2 from the known starting point based on the detection result of the speed sensor 27. The traveling control unit 20A obtains a control amount related to the traveling of the dump truck 2 to cause the dump truck 2 to travel along the set traveling path based on the detection result of the gyro sensor 26 and the detection result of the speed sensor 27. The traveling control unit 20A then causes the dump truck 2 to travel along the traveling path by controlling at least one of the steering, the acceleration, and the brake of the dump truck 2 based on the obtained control amount.

In the present embodiment, the traveling control unit 20A of the dump truck causes the dump truck 2 to travel by the dead reckoning navigation. However, the method is not limited thereto, and for example, the management device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 may cause the dump truck 2 to travel by the dead reckoning navigation. In this case, the processing device 12 of the management device 10 acquires the detection signal of the gyro sensor 26 and the detection result of the speed sensor 27 through the communication system 9. The processing device 12 then obtains the control amount related to the traveling of the dump truck 2 to cause the dump truck 2 to travel along the set traveling path based on the detection result of the gyro sensor 26 and the detection result of the speed sensor 27. Next, the processing device 12 transmits the control amount obtained through the communication system 9 to the processing device 20 of the dump truck 2. The traveling control unit 20A of the processing device 20 causes the dump truck 2 to travel along the traveling path by controlling at least one operation of the steering, the accelerator, and the brake of the dump truck 2 based on the control amount acquired from the processing device 12 of the management device 10.

Next, an example in which the dump truck 2 travels while the own position of the dump truck 2 obtained by the dead reckoning navigation (hereinafter, the own position is appropriately referred to as reckoned position) is corrected using the GPS will be described. If the traveling distance of the dump truck 2 becomes long, there is a possibility of causing an error between the reckoned position of the dump truck 2 and the actual own position of the dump truck 2 due to accumulation of detection errors of one or both of the gyro sensor 26 and the speed sensor 27. As a result, there is a possibility that the dump truck 2 deviates from the traveling path generated by the traveling path generation unit 12B of the processing device 12.

In the present embodiment, when the dump truck 2 travels by the dead reckoning navigation, the traveling control unit 20A causes the dump truck 2 to travel while correcting the reckoned position of the dump truck 2 using the information related to the GPS position of the dump truck 2, which has been detected by the position detection device 29. The traveling control unit 20A corrects the reckoned position of the dump truck 2 based on the detection result of the gyro sensor 26, the detection result of the speed sensor 27, and the information related to the GPS position of the dump truck 2, which has been detected by the position detection device 29. The traveling control unit 20A calculates the control amount related to the traveling of the dump truck 2 to cause the dump truck 2 to travel along the traveling path using the corrected reckoned position. The traveling control unit 20A then controls the traveling of the dump truck 2 based on the obtained control amount to cause the dump truck 2 traveling using the dead reckoning navigation to travel along the traveling path.

Next, an example in which the dump truck 2 travels by the dead reckoning navigation while the reckoned position obtained by the dead reckoning navigation is corrected using the landmark 8. There is a possibility that a state in which detection accuracy (measuring accuracy) by the GPS is decreased and a state in which measurement by the GPS becomes disabled are caused in the mine. For example, in a case where the antenna 29A cannot sufficiently receive the radio wave from the GPS satellite 5 due to an influence of an obstacle, or in a case where the number of GPS satellites 5 from which the antenna 29A can receive the radio waves is small, in the mine, there is the possibility that a state in which detection accuracy by the GPS is decreased and a state in which measurement by the GPS becomes disabled are caused.

In the present embodiment, when correction of the reckoned position obtained by the dead reckoning navigation using the GPS is difficult, the traveling control unit 20A of the dump truck 2 corrects the reckoned position using the landmark 8. That is, when not correcting the reckoned position using the GPS, the traveling control unit 20A corrects the reckoned position of the dump truck 2 obtained by the dead reckoning navigation using the relative position between the landmark 8 and the dump truck 2, which has been detected using the non-contact sensor 24, and the registration position corresponding to the landmark 8 detected using the non-contact sensor 24.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of traveling of the dump truck 2 including correction of the reckoned position using the landmark 8 and the non-contact sensor 24. In the mine, a plurality of the landmarks 8 is installed in the loading place LPA, the dumping place DPA, and the conveying path HL, before the operation of the dump truck 2. Each of the positions (that are the GPS positions and also the absolute positions) of the plurality of landmarks 8 is detected using the GPS. The information related to the positions of the landmarks 8 detected using the GPS are stored in the storage device 13 of the management device 10 to become the registration positions (step S1). In the present embodiment, a part or whole of the information related to the positions of the landmarks 8 is transmitted to and stored in the storage device 25 included in the processing system 2S of the dump truck 2 through the communication system 9.

The traveling control unit 20A of the dump truck 2 causes the dump truck 2 to travel based on the dead reckoning navigation (step S2). During the traveling of the dump truck 2, the traveling control unit 20A causes the non-contact sensor 24 to emit the radio wave. The detection result of the non-contact sensor 24 is output to the traveling control unit 20A. The traveling control unit 20A determines whether the landmark 8 has been detected based on the detection result of the non-contact sensor 24 (step S3).

In step S3, when it has been determined that the landmark 8 has not been detected (No in step S3), the traveling of the dump truck 2 based on the dead reckoning navigation is continued (step S2). In step S3, when it has been determined that the landmark 8 has been detected (Yes in step S3), the traveling control unit 20A compares the position of the landmark 8, which is stored in the storage device 25, that is, the registration position, and the position (measured position) of the landmark 8, which has been detected by the non-contact sensor 24 (step S4). The traveling control unit 20A obtains the measured position of the landmark 8 based on the information related to the relative position between the dump truck 2 and the landmark 8, which has been detected by the non-contact sensor 24, and the reckoned position of the dump truck 2 at the point of time when the non-contact sensor 24 detects the landmark 8.

In this case, the traveling control unit 20A extracts, from the storage device 25, the information corresponding to the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24, of the information related to the positions of the plurality of landmarks 8, which is stored in the storage device 25. That is, the position of the landmark 8 closest to the reckoned position in the traveling direction side of the dump truck 2 at timing when the non-contact sensor 24 has detected the landmark 8 is extracted, from the registration positions (GPS positions) of the plurality of landmarks 8, which are stored in the storage device 25. In step S4, the registration position of the landmark 8, which has been extracted as described above, is compared with the measured position of the landmark 8, which has been detected by the non-contact sensor 24.

In the present embodiment, the registration position of the landmark 8 and the measured position are compared in step S4. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the reckoned position of the dump truck 2 and the position of the dump truck 2 obtained from the registration position of the landmark 8 may be compared in step S4. In this case, the position of the dump truck 2 based on the registration position of the landmark 8 is obtained from the information related to the relative position between the dump truck 2 and the landmark 8, which has been detected by the non-contact sensor 24, and the registration position of the landmark 8.

The traveling control unit 20A corrects the reckoned position of the dump truck 2 based on a result of the comparison in step S4 (step S5). For example, the traveling control unit 20A obtains a correction amount of the reckoned position based on a difference between the registration position of the landmark 8, which is stored in the storage device 25, and the measured position of the landmark 8, which has been detected by the non-contact sensor 24. That is, the traveling control unit 20A obtains the control amount related to the traveling of the dump truck 2 including the above-described correction amount used to correct the reckoned position of the dump truck 2 based on the detection result of the gyro sensor 26, the detection result of the speed sensor 27, the information related to the relative position between the dump truck 2 and the landmark 8, which has been detected using the non-contact sensor 24, and the information related to the position of the landmark 8, which is stored in the storage device 25. The traveling control unit 20A controls the traveling of the dump truck 2 to cause the dump truck 2 to travel along the traveling path generate by the traveling path generation unit 12B of the processing device 12 illustrated in FIG. 2, based on the obtained correction amount and the command including the control amount.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the processing device 20 of the dump truck 2 corrects the reckoned position using the GPS or the landmark 8 has been described. However, the embodiment is not limited to the example, and the management device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 may correct the reckoned position using the GPS or the landmark 8.

<Example of Position Detection Processing and Position Registration Processing of Landmark>

Next, an example of position detection processing and position registration processing (processing of step S1 of FIG. 8) of the landmark 8 will be described. The position detection processing of the landmark 8 is processing of detecting the position (GPS position) of the landmark 8. To be specific, the position registration processing of the landmark 8 is processing of storing and registering the detected position of the landmark 8 and the information related to the position to the storage device 13 (database 13B). Note that the position of the landmark 8 may be stored and registered to the storage device 25 (database 25B) of the dump truck 2.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the position detection processing and the position registration processing of the landmark 8 according to the present embodiment. The position of the landmark 8 installed in the mine is detected using the GPS. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the position of the landmark 8 is detected using the GPS antenna 34A.

The position of the vehicle 3 on which the worker WM boards is detected, and the vehicle 3 is moved near the landmark 8 to be registered. In this case, the vehicle 3 is moved near the landmark 8 to be registered in a state of mounting the antenna 34A on the own vehicle.

When the vehicle 3 arrives near the landmark 8, the worker WM holds the antenna 34A and moves the antenna 34A outside the vehicle 3. Therefore, although the antenna 34A is taken outside the vehicle 3, the position detection device 34 is mounted on the vehicle 3. Next, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the worker WM installs the antenna 34A near the landmark 8 installed in the mine. The antenna 34A receives the radio wave from the GPS satellite 5 in a state of being arranged outside the vehicle 3.

The signal based on the radio wave from the GPS satellite 5 received by the antenna 34A is output to the position detection device 34 through the cable 35. The position detection device 34 detects the position (GPS position) of the antenna 34A based on the signal from the antenna 34A. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the antenna 34A outputs the signal based on the radio wave from the GPS satellite 5 to the position detection device 34 in a state of being installed near the landmark 8. Therefore, the position detection device 34 obtains the GPS position of the antenna 34A, so that the GPS position of the landmark 8 is detected.

The processing device 30 of the vehicle 3 transmits the information based on the signal from the antenna 34A to the wireless communication device 18 of the management device 10 using the wireless communication device 32 mounted on the vehicle 3. In the present embodiment, the information based on the signal from the antenna 34A includes the information related to the position of the antenna 34A, the information related to the position of the landmark 8, and the like, which have been detected by the position detection device 34 based on the signal from the antenna 34A. Hereinafter, the aforementioned information is referred to as landmark position information. The wireless communication device 18 of the management device 10 receives the landmark position information received from the wireless communication device 32 of the vehicle 3. The processing device 12 of the management device 10 acquires the information related to the landmark position information transmitted from the vehicle 3 through the wireless communication device 18, and registers the information to the storage device 13 (database 13B).

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the vehicle 3 is stopped in a predetermined range around the landmark 8 installed along the conveying path HL. In FIG. 10, IDs of the respective landmarks 8 are 100, 101, 102, and 103, to identify the plurality of landmarks 8 installed along the conveying path HL.

In the mine, a manned vehicle 3 and another mining machine such as a motor grader travel, in addition to the dump truck 2. The non-contact sensor 24 mounted on the dump truck 2 detects existence of the landmark 8 with a reflected wave of the radio wave or light. Especially, intensity of the reflected wave (reflection intensity) of the vehicle 3 and the another mining machine is often close to that of the landmark 8, and it is difficult that the non-contact sensor 24 distinguishes the landmark 8 from the vehicle 3 and the another mining machine according to a difference in the reflection intensity. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 10, for example, in a case where the vehicle 3 or the another mining machine is stopped in a predetermined range around the landmark 8, there is a possibility that the non-contact sensor 24 wrongly detects the vehicle 3 or the another mining machine existing in the detection region 300, as the landmark 8. The same applies to a device other than the vehicle 3 or the another mining machine, a natural object, or the like. That is, in a case where an object different from the landmark 8 exists near the landmark 8, there is a possibility that wrong detection of the landmark 8 as described above occurs.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the vehicle 3 is stopped in the predetermined range around the landmark 8 with the ID 102. However, the position of the landmark 8 and the positions of the vehicle 3 and the like stopped in the predetermined range around the landmark 8 are different. Therefore, if the non-contact sensor 24 wrongly detects the vehicle 3 in the detection region 300, as the landmark 8, the position different from the original position of the landmark 8 is treated as the position of the landmark 8. As a result, in a case where the dump truck 2 travels in the conveying path HL while correcting a reckoning error using the position of the landmark 8, using the dead reckoning navigation, there is a possibility that the reckoned position after correction deviates from the original position if the position of the vehicle 3 is used as the position of the landmark 8. As a result, there is a possibility that the dump truck 2 deviates from the traveling path and the conveying path HL determined in advance. The dump truck 2 deviating from the conveying path HL requires a time to return to the conveying path HL, and as a result, productivity of the mine may be decreased.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle 3 and the like transmit the own positions measured using the GPS to the management device 10 through the communication system 9. The vehicle 3 and the like may directly transmit the own positions to the dump truck 2. The management device 10 stores the positions of the vehicle 3 and the like to the storage device 13. Therefore, the management device 10 can grasp the positions (GPS positions and also absolute positions) of the vehicle 3 and the mining machine other than the dump truck 2 operated in the mine. The traveling control unit 20A of the dump truck 2 acquires the positions of the vehicle 3 and the like from the management device 10, to be specific, from the storage device 13 of the management device 10, in a case of causing the dump truck 2 to travel while correcting the reckoning error using the position of the landmark 8. The traveling control unit 20A then compares the position of the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24 and the positions of the vehicle 3 and the like. As a result, when the vehicle 3 and the like exist in the predetermined range around the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24, the traveling control unit 20A does not use at least the position of the landmark 8 in a case of causing the dump truck 2 to travel using the dead reckoning navigation. To be specific, the traveling control unit 20A does not execute correction of the reckoned position using at least the landmark 8. In doing so, the traveling control unit 20A can suppress a decrease in the productivity of the mine because the possibility that the dump truck 2 deviates from the traveling path and the conveying path HL determined in advance is decreased, in a case where the dump truck 2 that travels using the dead reckoning navigation corrects the reckoned position using the position of the landmark 8.

<Processing of Mining Machine Management Method>

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of the mining machine management method according to the present embodiment. The mining machine management method according to the present embodiment is mainly executed by the management device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 and the processing system 2S of the dump truck 2 illustrated in FIG. 4. However, the method may be executed by one of the management device 10 and the processing system 2S of the dump truck 2. In step S101, the traveling control unit 20A of the processing device 20 included in the processing system 2S of the dump truck 2 acquires the information of the non-contact sensor 24, to be specific, the detection result of the non-contact sensor 24. When having detected at least one object in the detection region 300, the non-contact sensor 24 outputs the information related to the distance from the own sensor to the detected object, the azimuth to the own sensor, and the like to the processing device 20 as a detection result.

In step S102, when the non-contact sensor 24 has detected the position of the landmark 8 (Yes in step S102), the traveling control unit 20A of the processing device 20 moves the processing on to step S103. When the non-contact sensor 24 has not detected the position of the landmark 8 (No in step S102), the traveling control unit 20A returns to step S101 again, and executes the processing. Here, detection of the landmark 8 will be described.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are diagrams illustrating an example of a technique of detecting the landmark 8. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an example of processing of detecting the landmark 8. In the present embodiment, in a case where the non-contact sensor 24 detects the landmark 8, the landmark 8 and another object are distinguished using the reflection intensity of the object detected by the non-contact sensor 24, the movement of the object detected by the non-contact sensor 24, and the difference between the registered position of the landmark 8 and the position of the object obtained by the non-contact sensor 24.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, assume that the landmark 8, a rock RK, a sign SI, and the vehicle 3 exist in the traveling direction side of the dump truck 2 that travels in the conveying path HL. These objects are in the detection region 300 of the non-contact sensor 24. The vehicle 3 is moved in the direction illustrated by the arrow F. The arrow F indicates the traveling direction of the vehicle 3. In step S201, when the non-contact sensor 24 has detected these objects, the position of the landmark 8 is Pl, the position of the rock RK is Prk, the position of the sign SI is Psi, and the position of the vehicle 3 is Pv, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The registered position of the landmark 8 obtained in advance and stored in the storage device 13 of the management device 10 illustrate in FIG. 2 or in the storage device 25 of the dump truck 2 illustrated in FIG. 4 is Pr (hereinafter, the position of the landmark 8 is appropriately referred to as registration landmark position Pr). As illustrated in FIG. 13, when the non-contact sensor 24 detects these objects, information indicating that an object having different reflection intensity and a moving object exist in the detection region 300 can be obtained. The traveling control unit 20A identifies the landmark 8 by executing the processing of step S202 and subsequent steps from the aforementioned information. In the description below, the objects detected by the non-contact sensor 24 are appropriately referred to as detected objects.

The traveling control unit 20A obtains the positions of these detected objects from the distances and azimuths before executing the processing of step S202 and the subsequent steps. The positions of the detected objects are relative positions to the non-contact sensor 24. Therefore, the traveling control unit 20A obtains the absolute positions of the detected objects using the position (absolute position) of the dump truck 2 at the time when the non-contact sensor 24 has detected the objects. Hereinafter, all of the position Pl corresponding to the landmark 8, the position Prk corresponding to the rock RK, the position Psi corresponding to the sign SI, and the position Pv corresponding to the vehicle 3 are absolute positions.

In step S202, the traveling control unit 20A acquires the registration landmark position Pr from the storage device 25 of the dump truck 2 illustrated in FIG. 4, and compares the registration landmark position Pr with the absolute positions of the detected objects. The registration landmark position Pr is a GPS position and also an absolute position. After the comparison of step S202, the traveling control unit 20A moves the processing onto step S203. In step S203, when the distances between the absolute positions of the detected objects and the registration landmark position Pr are within a predetermined value r (Yes in step S203), the traveling control unit 20A executes processing of step S204 for the detected objects. The predetermined value r is used to identify the landmark 8. In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, the distances between the registration landmark position Pr, and the position Pl, the position Prk, and the position Pv are within the predetermined value r. Therefore, the traveling control unit 20A executes the processing of step S204 for these objects.

In step S204, the traveling control unit 20A compares reflection intensity RF of the detected objects such as the position Pl, the position Prk, and the position Pv with a threshold RFc of the reflection intensity determined in advance. The threshold RFc of the reflection intensity is used to exclude an object having low reflection intensity such as the rock and the like when identifying the landmark 8 from the detected objects. The magnitude of the threshold RFc of the reflection intensity is determined to achieve the objective. After the comparison of step S204, the traveling control unit 20A moves the processing onto step S205.

In step S205, when there is the detected object having the reflection intensity RF that is the threshold RFc of the reflection intensity or more (RF≥RFc) (Yes in step S205), the traveling control unit 20A executes processing of step S206 for such a detected object. In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, the reflection intensity RF of the detected objects corresponding to the position Pl and the position Pv is the threshold RFc of the reflection intensity or more, and the reflection intensity RF of the detected object corresponding to the position Prk is smaller than the threshold RFc of the reflection intensity. Therefore, the traveling control unit 20A executes processing of step S206 for the detected objects corresponding to the position Pl and the position Pv.

In the step S206, the traveling control unit 20A obtains movement of the detected objects corresponding to the position Pl and the position Pv. For example, the traveling control unit 20A determines that the detected objects corresponding to the aforementioned positions are being moved when change of the position Pl and the position Pv acquired at different times is a predetermined value or more, and determines that the detected objects corresponding to the aforementioned positions remain still when the change is smaller than the predetermined value. Since the landmark 8 is a stationary structure, a moving detected object is not the landmark 8. After comparison of step S206, the traveling control unit 20A moves the processing onto step S207.

In step S207, when a detected object remains still (Yes in step S207), the traveling control unit 20A determines that the detected object is the landmark 8 in step S208. In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, the detected object corresponding to the position Pl remains still, and the detected object corresponding to the position Pv is moved toward the traveling direction F. Therefore, the detected object corresponding to the position Pl is the landmark 8. The position Pl is the absolute position of the landmark 8.

When the distance between the registration landmark position Pr and the absolute position of the detected object is larger than the predetermined value r (No in step S203), when there is a detected object having the reflection intensity RF that is smaller than the threshold RFc of the reflection intensity (RF<RFc) (No in step S205), and when the detected object is being moved (No in step S207), the traveling control unit 20A determines that such detected objects are not the landmark 8 in step S209. The traveling control unit 20A executes such processing and identifies the landmark 8 from the objects detected by the non-contact sensor 24, so that the landmark 8 is detected by the non-contact sensor 24.

As described above, when the vehicle 3 or the like is stopped near the landmark 8, there is a possibility that the vehicle 3 or the like is wrongly detected as the landmark 8. That is, the position of the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24 in step S102 or the detected object determined by the traveling control unit 20A as the landmark 8 in step S208 may be an object other than the landmark 8, which has been wrongly detected. In the description below, the “detected landmark 8” is a concept including a candidate of the landmark 8.

In step S102 described above, when the non-contact sensor 24 has detected the landmark 8 (Yes in step S102), the traveling control unit 20A determines whether the vehicle 3 or the like exists in a predetermined range (first range) around the detected landmark 8. In this case, the traveling control unit 20A acquires the position of the vehicle 3 or the like operated in the mine from the storage device 13 of the management device 10 through the communication system 9. If all of the positions of the vehicle 3 and the like operated in the mine are acquired, an information amount may become massive. Therefore, the traveling control unit 20A may acquire only the positions of the vehicle 3 and the like existing in a second range larger than the first range, based on the position of the detected landmark 8. In doing so, the information amount can be decreased. Therefore, the traveling control unit 20A can decrease a load to be provided to the communication system 9 and an objective amount to be compared with the position of the detected landmark 8. While the first range is a range of several meters to several ten meters in radius around the landmark 8, for example, the second range is a range of several hundred meters in radius around the landmark 8, for example.

In the description above, the traveling control unit 20A has acquired the position of the vehicle 3 or the like operated in the mine from the storage device 13 of the management device 10. However, the dump truck 2 may directly acquire the position of the vehicle 3 or the like operated in the mine from the vehicle 3 or the like, and store the acquired position to the storage device 25 of the dump truck 2. In this case, the position of the vehicle 3 or the like operated in the mine may be transferred from a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory, a computer, or the like to the storage device 25, or may be transferred from the storage device 13 of the management device 10 to the storage device 25 of the dump truck 2 through the communication system 9 in advance. In the present embodiment, an example in which the position of the vehicle 3 is acquired based on the landmark 9 has been described. However, the position of the vehicle 3 may be acquired based on the current own position of the dump truck 2.

In step S103, the traveling control unit 20A compares the position of the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24, and the position of the vehicle 3 or the like operate in the mine. In step S103, whether the vehicle 3 or the like exists in a predetermined range around the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24 is determined as follows, for example. The position of the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24 is Pl, and the position of the vehicle 3 or the like is Pv. A difference ΔP between the position of the landmark 8 and the position of the vehicle 3 can be obtained by √{(Xml−Xv)²+(Yml−Yv)²+(Zml−Zv)²}, for example, where the coordinates of the position Pl of the detected landmark 8 are (Xml, Yml, Zml), the coordinates of the position Pt of the vehicle 3 or the like are (Xv, Yv, Zv). The traveling control unit 20A compares the difference ΔP with a predetermined threshold ΔPc, and when the difference ΔP is the predetermined threshold ΔPc or less, the traveling control unit 20A determines that the vehicle 3 or the like exists in the predetermined range around the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24.

When the traveling control unit 20A has determined that the vehicle 3 or the like exists in the predetermined range around the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24 (Yes in step S103), the traveling control unit 20A moves the processing onto step S104. In step S104, when causing the dump truck 2 to travel using the dead reckoning navigation, the traveling control unit 20A does not use at least the position of the landmark 8 having the vehicle 3 exist in the predetermined range therearound. When having determined that the vehicle 3 or the like does not exist in the predetermined range around the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24 (No in step S103), the traveling control unit 20A uses the position of the landmark 8, which has been the comparison object in step S103, when causing the dump truck 2 to travel using the dead reckoning navigation.

<Modification>

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a mining machine management method according to a modification of the present embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a mining machine management method according to the modification of the present embodiment. In FIG. 16, a position Pr is the above-described registration landmark position, a position Pl is a position of a detected object (a landmark 8 in this example), and a position Pv is a position of a vehicle 3. The present modification is similar to the above-described embodiment. However, the present modification is different from the above-described embodiment in that a predetermined value r is made small, the predetermined value r being to be used to determine that the detected object is the landmark 8 in a case where the vehicle 3 or the like exists in a predetermined range around the landmark 8 detected by a non-contact sensor 24.

Steps S301 to S303 of the modification are similar to steps S101 to S103 of the above-described embodiment, and thus description is omitted. When having determined that the vehicle 3 or the like exists in the predetermined range around the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24 (Yes in step S303), a traveling control unit 20A moves processing onto step S304. In step S304, the traveling control unit 20A makes the predetermined value r small, which is to be used to determine that the detected object detected by the non-contact sensor 24 is the landmark 8. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 16, when the vehicle 3 or the like does not exist in the predetermined range around the detected landmark 8, the predetermined value r is used. However, when the vehicle 3 or the like exists, a predetermine value rs is used (r>rs).

In a case where the predetermined value r is used, the distance between the registration landmark position Pr and the position Pv of the vehicle 3 becomes within the predetermined value r. As a result, the vehicle 3 existing in the predetermined range around the detected landmark 8 is also determined as the landmark 8. The present modification uses the predetermined value rs that is smaller than the predetermined value r, as the predetermined value, when the vehicle 3 or the like exists in the predetermined range around the detected landmark 8 (Yes in step S303), and thus the distance between the registration landmark position Pr and the position Pv of the vehicle 3 becomes larger than the predetermined value rs. Therefore, the vehicle 3 existing in the predetermined range around the detected landmark 8 is also determined not to be the landmark 8. That is, in this case, the traveling control unit 20A does not consider the vehicle 3 existing in the predetermined range around the detected landmark 8, as the landmark 8. In this case, the distance between the registration landmark position Pr and the position Pl of the detected object is within the predetermined value rs. Therefore, the detected object is determined as the landmark 8.

In step S304, when the predetermined value r is changed to the predetermined value rs, in step S305, the traveling control unit 20A executes processing of identifying the detected object as the landmark 8 using the predetermined value rs in a case of causing the dump truck 2 to travel using at least the dead reckoning navigation. When the vehicle 3 or the like does not exist in the predetermined range around the detected landmark 8 (No in step S303), the traveling control unit 20A executes processing (step S305) of identifying the detected object as the landmark 8 using the predetermined value rs without changing the predetermined value r.

The present modification makes the predetermined value r small, which is to be used to determine the detected object as the landmark 8, when the vehicle 3 or the like exists in the predetermined range around the landmark 8. Therefore, the traveling control unit 20A can decrease a possibility to determine the vehicle 3 or the like existing in the predetermined range around the detected landmark 8, as the landmark 8. As a result, in a case of correcting the reckoning error in the position of the landmark 8 during traveling of the dump truck 2 by the dead reckoning navigation, the traveling control unit 20A can decrease a possibility that a reckoned position after correction deviates from the original position. Therefore, in the dump truck 2, a possibility to deviate from a traveling path and a conveying path HL determined in advance is decreased, and a decrease in the productivity of the mine is suppressed. Further, the present modification has an advantage to suppress a decrease in the number of landmarks to be used, in a case where the traveling control unit 20A corrects the reckoned position using the landmark 8.

In the present embodiment and the modification, an example has been described, in which the vehicle 3 exists in the predetermined range around the landmark 8 with an ID 102, in a case where a dump truck 2 a, of a plurality of dump trucks 2 that travel in the conveying path HL, detects the landmark 8 with an ID 102. In this case, the dump truck 2 a and a following dump truck 2 b may separately determine existence of the vehicle 3, and may determine whether using the position of the landmark 8 with the ID 102. Further, a processing system 2S of the dump truck 2 a may transmit a detection result in the dump truck 2 a to a processing system 2S of the another dump truck 2 b through a communication system 9, and the processing system 2S of the another dump truck 2 b may use the determination result. In a case where the processing system 2S of the another dump truck 2 b uses the determination result in the dump truck 2 a, the processing system 2S of the dump truck 2 a transmits the determination result to a management system 1 once, and the management system 1 may transmit the determination result to the processing system 2S of the another dump truck 2 b. The following dump truck 2 b can promptly use the determination result. In a case where the determination result has been transmitted to another dump truck (not illustrated) ahead of the dump truck 2 a, the another dump truck can use the determination result when returning to the same location again.

Since the vehicle 3 is a moving body, its position is changed from moment to moment. Therefore, in the mine, it is more favorable to determine existence of the vehicle 3 for each dump truck 2, and to determine whether using the position of the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24. In this case, the processing system 2S of the dump truck 2 acquires the position of the vehicle 3 every time detecting the position of a different landmark 8, and can determine whether using the position of the landmark 8 detected by the non-contact sensor 24. In doing so, the processing system 2S of the dump truck 2 can use the position of the vehicle 3 at the time of detection of the landmark 8. Therefore, accuracy of determination as to whether the vehicle 3 exists in the predetermined range around the landmark 8 can be improved.

As described above, the present embodiment and the modification have been described. However, the present embodiment is not limited by the above-described content. Further, the above-described configuration elements of the embodiment include those easily conceived by a person skilled in the art, those substantially the same, and those within the scope of equivalents. Further, the above-described configuration elements can be appropriately combined. Further, various omissions, replacements, and changes of the configuration elements can be made without departing from the gist of the present embodiment.

For example, in the present embodiment and the modification, the processing system 2S of the dump truck 2 has acquired the positions of the vehicle 3 and the like from the management device 10 through the communication system 9. However, the processing system 2S of the dump truck 2 may directly acquire the positions from the vehicle 3 and the like through the communication system 9.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1 MANAGEMENT SYSTEM     -   2, 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c DUMP TRUCK     -   2S PROCESSING SYSTEM     -   3 VEHICLE     -   3S CONTROL SYSTEM     -   4 LOADING MACHINE     -   7 CONTROL FACILITY     -   8 LANDMARK     -   8R REFLECTING PORTION     -   9 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM     -   10 MANAGEMENT DEVICE     -   11 COMPUTER SYSTEM     -   12 PROCESSING DEVICE     -   12A DATA PROCESSING UNIT     -   12B TRAVELING PATH GENERATION UNIT     -   13 STORAGE DEVICE     -   13B DATABASE     -   18 WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE     -   20 PROCESSING DEVICE     -   20A TRAVELING CONTROL UNIT     -   21 VEHICLE MAIN BODY     -   24 NON-CONTACT SENSOR     -   25 STORAGE DEVICE     -   25B DATABASE     -   26 GYRO SENSOR     -   27 SPEED SENSOR     -   28 WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE     -   29 POSITION DETECTION DEVICE     -   300 DETECTION REGION 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A mining machine management system comprising: a detection unit mounted on a mining machine operable to travel in an unmanned manner in a mine having at least one landmark installed therein, and configured to detect a position of an object relative to the mining machine in the mine by non-contact detection; and a traveling control unit configured to determine that the object is a landmark, when a distance between the detected position of the object and a previously obtained position of the landmark is smaller than a threshold value, to correct a current position of the mining machine based on the previously obtained position of the landmark and the detected position of the landmark and to cause the mining machine to travel in the mine by dead reckoning navigation, wherein the traveling control unit is further configured to lower the threshold value, when there is a further object other than the landmark within a predetermined range around the detected position of the landmark.
 2. The mining machine management system according to claim 1, wherein, the traveling control unit determines that the object is not the landmark, when the distance between the detected position of the object and the previously obtained position of the landmark is larger than the lowered threshold value.
 3. The mining machine management system according to claim 1, further comprising: an own position detection device mounted on the mining machine, and configured to obtain an own position of the mining machine, wherein the traveling control unit is configured to cause the mining machine to travel based on the own position detected by the own position detection device, and to cause the mining machine to travel in the mine by the dead reckoning navigation when the own position detection device becomes unable to detect the own position.
 4. The mining machine management system according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a radar device configured to detect an object around the mining machine, for monitoring the surroundings of the mining machine, and reflectance of the landmark relative to the radio wave is higher than that of the object other than the landmark. 